House panel supports bill to expand smoking ban

BATON ROUGE- Smoking would be prohibited within 25 feet of the entrance to any building where smoking already is banned, under a proposal heading to the full House for debate.

The House Health and Welfare Committee backed the bill by Republican Rep. Frank Hoffmann, of West Monroe, without objection Wednesday.

Hoffmann says he's pushing the measure because of the dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke.

Louisiana prohibits smoking in restaurants, public places, public buildings and many places of employment. Hoffmann's proposal would extend the ban to within 25 feet of those buildings' entrances and to wheelchair ramps. It wouldn't apply to places like casinos, bars and private residences, which are exempt from the state's smoking ban.